Just So You Know, I'm "Boycotting" WNYC's New Morning Show, "The Takeaway"

So last summer, a good friend of mine who I'll call "Michelle" saw a job listing for writers for a new NPR PRI morning show (nullus on the title of the job listing.) She was applying, and because she knew I was keeping an eye out at the time, she sent it to me and encouraged me to apply too (a typical example of the kind of generosity that should be typical but isn't in media. Michelle, though made ungoogleable here for obvious current-job reasons, is awesome.)

The application required an essay, and we each spent time writing thoughtful, frankly kickass essays about the experience we would bring to the job (Michelle wrote about starting a web magazine with all dudes, I busted out the Fundamentalist Christian shit.) We kind of congratulated ourselves and each other a little prematurely, though, and as the months wore on and we didn't hear back, we were like "wtf, what is wrong with them and their inefficient hiring process?" Finally, in JANUARY, when we'd both basically forgotten about it, we got this:

Thank you for your interest in becoming one of our "Curious People to Remake Mornings." We enjoyed learning about you, and your experience and background.

However, we wanted to let you know that, at this time, you didn't make our first round of candidates. We hope you'll take some comfort in the fact that we had more than 1,700 applications for this posting.

PLEASE DO NOT REPLY TO THIS E-MAIL

Normally I would be like "I suck, whatever" but Michelle is really talented and I read her application and it was really great. Also, who sends these out? Like, clearly we didn't get the jobs. It had been like five months. "Reminder: You Were Rejected! We Didn't Pick You For Something You Totally Forgot About! Not even for the first round! Please Do Not Reply To This Email!" Crap email from public radio!

So, ever since then, every single media mention of the show in question, The Takeaway, which premieres at 6 am Monday morning on WNYC, has garnered a flurry of IMs and emails between Michelle and I. We are very bitter, and we're boycotting the show out of completely pointless protest (we both like our jobs now.) The current rationalization is "They realized immediately that they couldn't afford us," though we went through a very dark "We're too old" period in early February.

Anyway, I might cheat on Michelle (and my beloved Soterios Johnson!) and listen anyway, but not at 6 am. Online, like a normal person.

Also, these FAQs are hilariously random. I am definitely still bitter.

 

Comments

[Jesse Thorn]

As a PRI affiliated program, I feel obliged to mention that The Takeaway is a PRI show, not an NPR show.

Or maybe I should just let this one lie...

[Jeff]

FAQ: What the fuck does the Takeaway mean?

[RadioHead]

For what its worth, the Takeaway isn't an "NPR" show at all, it is WNYC and Public Radio International - they're going against NPR with this project. I say we all stand together with Soterios. Hockenberry is a bit of a smart-ass.

[Michelle]

I cracked. I listened. And I missed Soterios. Also, the hosts talk over one another. Because it's live, people! There's potential, but I fear the "Morning Zoo for Smart People" this could easily become.

[Skipp Porteous]

The Takeaway really sucks. It's too "busy" for that hour in the morning, it's unfocused, confusing, and just plain stupid.
I think it will fail, and I hope it does. Takeaway The Takeaway, please.